Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna 2-0 Medyk Konin

In my ongoing “football geek” (Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce) adventures, it was time to watch a Polish ladies match and we picked a brilliant match to attend. This match we went to in June 2019 in the city of Łęczna (near Lublin), had a history dating back to 2017…

Our team

Back in December 2017, I was invited to attend a charity football tournament in Kosciań. On the day, there were more female matches than male matches. I was surprised to find out that two Polish football internationals were playing in the tournament. There was to be Ewelina Kamczyk and Weronika Zawistowska. I met them both briefly at that event while they chatted to Damian’s girlfriend who was on the same team. For me, it was a pleasure to be invited there as an immigrant, Polish based blogger and professional travel blogger.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Charity Tournament in Kościan – VIII Halowy Charytatywny Turniej Piłki Nożnej-Piłkarze Dzieciom

Our team warming up

But that was a long time ago now…fast forward to June 2019 and the closing stages of the Polish League season. While the men’s league finished in May (the Ekstraklasa being won by underdogs Piast Gliwice), the women’s league ( the Ekstraliga) would finish on Saturday 8th June. And what a climax it was set to be…

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

Going into the final round of matches, here’s how the Ekstraliga table looked.

Before the final games

And just to add to the drama, second placed Górnik Łęczna would be at home to leaders Medyk Konin in the last match of the season! It would be a winner takes all scenario. So basically a draw or a win for Medyk Konin would give them the title. But a win for Górnik Łęczna would give them the title.

Górnik Łęczna’s stadium

It was another crazy trip and one that had to be done, reminding me of my 2007 trip to Babruysk in Belarus to watch Northern Ireland ladies. This time it was Rafał and I going. Rafał has also watched football with me in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as many Legia Warszawa matches and some Wacaday Polish adventures to the Poland under 20s team, Bruk Bet Termalika Nieciecza and Klub Piłkarski Starogard Gdański.

Warszawa Centralna to Lublin by train

We boarded a morning train from Warszawa Centralna to Lublin, itself a city I love having visited it 3 times before. I came here not only to tour the pretty old town but also to see Majdanek German Death Camp.

Downtown Lublin

This time we grabbed a lunchtime pizza and pint near the bus station before boarding a bus to Łęczna. The Lublin to Łęczna minibus costs 4złotych and takes around 25 minutes.

Pizza and Piwo for lunch in Lublin

On the bus to Łęczna

We grabbed some beers at the supermarket near the Górnik Łęczna stadium. Entry to the ladies match was surprisingly free, so no tickets and no security checks.

Walking to the Górnik Łęczna stadium

Arrival at the Górnik Łęczna stadium

It’s a pretty big stadium but the day was shrouded in hot sunshine. I started to get a headache in the heat but the match got underway and we had good seats, second row from the back. Some of those sitting near us seemed to know the players and it was mostly full of Górnik Łęczna supporters. There may have been a few neutrals or Medyk Konin fans but we didn’t hear nor see them.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

We both wore something green for the day (my “zombie punk” t-shirt and Rafal in the same colours as Górnik Łęczna’s home kit.Except today, Górnik Łęczna were in white and black, with Medyk Konin in red.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

After 20 minutes it was clear to us that Górnik Łęczna were the better side and would more than likely win. Time and time again, the wizzardic Ewelina Kamczyk twisted and turned down the left flank. A few chances went abegging and the tackles started to fly in. The game was becoming physical.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

It came as no surprise that it was Kamczyk herself who opened the scoring. She fired home a short range effort from a rebound. It was 1-0 at half time and more than deserved.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

I often wondered why the speedy and skillful forward Weronika Zawistowska (who was brilliant in the afforementioned 5 a side tournament and a Polish international) was on the bench, rather than starting. It was clearly tactical as Zawistowska got warmed up on the sidelines as the second half began. Górnik Łęczna showed no signs of losing this, they were taking control.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

After 65 minutes, enter Weronika Zawistowska. Within minutes she was using her skills down the right side and fired an effort just wide. As Medyk Konin attacked in vain, Kamczyk took the initiative down the left side. She cut inside the defender and placed a twenty yard sizzler into the top corner. It already felt like game over. The fans celebrated early and a guy with a megaphone got the crowds singing Ewelina Kamczyk songs.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

Kamczyk was taken off to loud applause and the countdown began…Górnik Łęczna were the Champions of Poland! The party could begin…

Górnik Łęczna 2-0 Medyk Konin
(Kamczyk 39, 77)

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

After the match the players did a lap of honour and high fived us all in the front row while some players also posed with the large silver trophy.

Śmieszne Historie o Piłce Nożnej w Polsce: Watching the Exciting Polish Ladies Season Climax, Górnik Łęczna v. Medyk Konin

Also attending the match was Polish World Cup star Zbigniew Boniek, and he handed out the medals…

Gornik celebrate, copyright Elbrus

Medals, copyright Elbrus

Zbigniew Boniek meets Ewelina Kamczyk – copyright Elbrus https://www.facebook.com/elbrus.studio.fotografia/

Here are some links to follow ladies football in Poland, and of course, Górnik Łęczna and their players:

Górnik Łęczna ladies team Wiki
Górnik Łęczna ladies team Facebook
Górnik Łęczna ladies team Official Website

Ola Sikora Polish captain (and Juventus player) on Instagram
Ewelina Kamczyk on Facebook
Weronika Zawistowka on Instagram

After the match, we headed to Lublin so I could watch Estonia v. Northern Ireland in a bar. We found a superb bar called Tifosi thanks to Rafal and they showed the match for me. From 1-0 down, we won 2-1 with two late goals from Washington and Magennis, capping off a great day of football!